Echoes of Unrequited Love

Chapter 88

“I'm at your door.” Hogan cleared up my confusion, “Xaviera, get back here pronto.”

Before | could even peep a word, Hogan hung up. The tone? His usual brusqueness.

Thinking about Cecilia, who was practically invisible at the party, | could relate. | bet Hogan came to stick up for his darling. Gotta finish today’s business today, | calmly headed back to my place.

Trouble was knocking: gotta face it head—on. Even though I’d prepped myself mentally, catching sight of Hogan leaning on my door still sent a flicker of surprise through me.

The man had his eyes half—closed, looking all worn out leaning against the door, with his high—quality suit and tie off, which was casually draped over his arm, only sporting a white shirt. The usually neat collar was now loose, revealing a swath of fair skin.

In the dimly lit hallway, with his delicate features, there was an odd sense of brokenness about him, a far cry from the dazzling CEO of Rainbow Capital at the party. Seemed even more beat than me.

Suddenly, | had no clue how to even say hi. But just then, as if sensing me there, he lifted his lids slightly, revealing those deep— set eyes.

Our gazes locked and | heard Hogan ask, “Decided to show up, huh?”

His voice was already on the lower side, a bit standoffish when serious, but when he softened it, there was this indescribable warmth, just like now.

| gripped my car keys tighter, feigned composure and said, “Mr. Zade, what brings you by so late?”

His gaze dropped, eventually resting on my hand, and then he quirked a smile, “Ms. March, you really went all out to butter up Darren.”

He was staring the car keys in my hand; looked like he too had noticed the same car brand.

| jiggled the keys, keeping it cool, “Speaking of which, you had a hand in this too, Mr. Zade.”

Hogan frowned upon hearing this, “What do you mean?”

“If it weren't for that transfer from you, | wouldn’t even make the down payment,” | spilled the beans.

Hogan watched me with an intensifying stare; incredulous, he asked, “Xaviera, you used my money to cozy up to another man?” He cranked up the volume on those last few words.

“Mr. Zade, like | told you before,” | didn’t want to rite things up, so | played it down, “the money's yours, sure, but we made a deal, didn’t we? | don’t have to report back to you on every penny, do

Chapter 88 1?”

Hogan’s expression stalled for a moment, and he irritably tugged at his collar; then realizing the tie was already gone, he fixed his gaze on me, “Ms. March, after all that effort, did Darren agree to invest?”

He was fixated on the idea that my “sweet-talking” Darren was all about the cash. But what had got him so worked up?

“Seems not yet.” Hogan deduced from my silence, “So, what’s next? Ms. March planning to pull the same stunt on Darren that you did with me?”

Tonight’s Hogan was a bit off his game, more chatty than he'd be in a normal month. And what threw me was that he wasn’t here for Cecilia’s sake.

Facing Hogan’s gaze, | felt an uninvited irritation and blurted out, “What exactly are you so concerned about, Mr. Zade?”

His question caught Hogan off guard too, and he quickly looked away, silent. Details were the devil — it hit me in that second, and | realized my tipsy slip—up.

| was about to clarify when Hogan threw another curveball, “What's the deal with the acceptance letter?”Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

Chapter 88 1?”

Hogan’s expression stalled for a moment, and he irritably tugged at his collar; then realizing the tie was already gone, he fixed his gaze on me, “Ms. March, after all that effort, did Darren agree to invest?”

He was fixated on the idea that my “sweet-talking” Darren was all about the cash. But what had got him so worked up?

“Seems not yet.” Hogan deduced from my silence, “So, what’s next? Ms. March planning to pull the same stunt on Darren that you did with me?”

Tonight’s Hogan was a bit off his game, more chatty than he'd be in a normal month. And what threw me was that he wasn’t here for Cecilia’s sake.

Facing Hogan’s gaze, | felt an uninvited irritation and blurted out, “What exactly are you so concerned about, Mr. Zade?”

His question caught Hogan off guard too, and he quickly looked away, silent. Details were the devil — it hit me in that second, and | realized my tipsy slip—up.

| was about to clarify when Hogan threw another curveball, “What's the deal with the acceptance letter?”